It’s not often the vacuum gets anything more than a second’s thought, but when you have a device as well equipped as Dyson’s new 360 Eye, you’ll be looking for any and all excuses to leave it out as a conversation piece.
As is evidenced by its name, this new robo-vac, which is designed to go head to head with the renowned Roomba, among others, comes with a 360-degree camera, which informs the device not just where it’s been, but where it’s going and if there are any obstacles in the way that it should try and avoid.
Smart, yes, but what’s really impressive about this piece of technology is the fact that it also includes a set of infra-red sensors. Coupled with the camera, the vacuum snaps up to 30 frames per second to create a detailed floor plan of the room for the purpose of maximizing efficiency and getting the most out of its half-hour battery.
For comparative purposes, the Roomba uses iRobot’s iAdapt system of software and sensors to navigate around a room, focusing on areas where it senses there’s more dirt. Botvacs by Neato uses a scanning laser to make its way around the room.
Now, with the 360 Eye traversing the various floor types of one’s homes, the folks at Dyson figured it needed a durable form of traction to maximize travel speeds. The company came to the conclusion that this would best be met by incorporating flexible tank treads on its wheels.
This allows the vacuum to climb over smaller obstacles, and travel across slippery surfaces with the greatest of ease. It also allows the 360 Eye to transition between rooms with tiny lips, ledges, or steps without tipping over and causing damage.
Dyson’s 360 Eye works with a free accompanying iOS and Android app (via WiFi) that allows users to remotely start cleaning cycles, or otherwise schedule vacuuming sessions so that the home is cleaned while they’re away. This is a feature unique to the 360 Eye and not available on the other major robo-vacs (yet).
Aside from all of these bells and whistles, the 360 Eye is still a pretty good vacuum. It features a Dyson 200-watt V2 digital motor (similar to that which you’d find of the company’s first generation of hand vacs), which is energy efficient, compact, and can gobble up around .4 liters of dust and dirt before needing to be emptied. Also, the vacuum’s spinning brush measures the entire width of the unit, so as to ensure all crevices between the floor and wall get vacuumed, and no areas go missed.
If you’re ready to purchase one, it looks like you’re going to have to wait. Come early 2015, the company plans to unveil the machine in Japan, where it sells extremely well, for 100,000 Yen, or $1,000 USD.
An international release (including the U.S.) is set for fall 2015. A price point has not been listed yet, and while the $1,000 price tag would be consistent with the Japanese release, according to an anonymous source that contributed to Engadget’s write-up of the vacuum the 360 Eye is a follow-up to a Dyson vacuum cleaner called the DC06 from 10 years ago. It was never released due in large part to its ridiculous $16,500 price tag, but the source reckons the 360 Eye will go for 10% that amount, and list for approximately $1,650.
To learn more about Dyson’s 360 Eye, check out the clips below.
Demonstration of the cleaner in action:
How the scanning technology works:
Via dyson360eye
Advertisement
Learn more about Electronic Products Magazine
